Coronavirus, Isolation, Reading

As writers, we are used to isolation and removing ourselves from social scenes to preserve a fragile mindset to write and envision and think deeply.

We also offer one of the most reassuring and resilient methods of diversion as it feels like the world is falling down around us and we are rightfully anxious and probably fearful. Reading is—and can be argued—is as much about containing the contagion as it is diverting, reassuring, and escapist in the most healthiest of ways.

Keep writing and carry on.

And the New York Times has helped by publishing a story today that lists the favorite diverting, escapist reads of a range of authors. You can find it here. There are some great suggestions and a wonderful range.

On my list I would add Me by Brenda Ueland (her memoir from 1938) and An Odyssey by Daniel Mendelsohn.

04/14/2020 Update

I have to write that after trying to slog through Writers & Lovers by Lily King that I absolutely cannot recommend it. The book is filled to overflowing with cliche, platitude, and just bad writing and storytelling.

She also plays into the well-worn trope of putting the woman’s romantic entanglements at the center of her story rather than any other aspect of her life, even her dead mother.

This was such an incredibly missed opportunity.